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History and development

DeviousMUD , the forerunner to RuneScape , was created in 1998 by Andrew Gower. The game, which was never publicly released, used isometric graphics. In 1999, Gower completely rewrote the game, albeit with no improvements to the graphics or several other aspects of the game. This version was released as a public beta version for approximately one week before it was withdrawn.

As a Cambridge University undergraduate, Gower worked on a complete rewrite of the game with the assistance of his brother, Paul Gower. The isometric view was replaced by a mixture of both three-dimensional and two-dimensional sprites. The game, renamed RuneScape , was released to the public as a beta version on 4 January 2001 and was originally operated from their parents' house in Nottingham. In December 2001, the Gower brothers and Constant Tedder formed Jagex to take over the business aspects of running RuneScape . Jagex developed a programming language called RuneScript which is used to code the game.

On 27 February 2002, a monthly membership service was made available, allowing access to additional features including new areas, quests, and items.

RuneScape' s popularity is partially attributable to being accessible from most web browsers allowing players to play the game in many locations.

As RuneScape gained more users, Jagex began planning major changes. The developers completely rewrote the game engine so that the graphics were entirely three-dimensional producing a version called RuneScape 2 . A beta version was made available to paying members on 1 December 2003, and the finished version was launched on 29 March 2004. Upon release, RuneScape 2 was renamed RuneScape , and the older version of the game was kept online as RuneScape Classic . On 12 January 2006, Jagex banned more than 5000 Classic accounts due to cheating and RuneScape Classic was closed to new accounts and restricted to paying members who had played Classic at least once since 3 August 2005, and once every six months after that.

On 16 May 2006, Jagex upgraded RuneScape's game engine, primarily as a back-end upgrade rather than a visible graphical boost. RuneScape' s memory requirements were significantly reduced, allowing the game to be expanded and improved without increasing the loading time for most players. The engine was upgraded once again on 26 June 2007 to allow the addition of future complex content.

Servers

There are more than 150 RuneScape servers located throughout the world, which are numbered and referred to as worlds by players and by Jagex. They are located in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Sweden, and Finland. Servers are located in areas where they will, at the given time, provide the best connection for players in the most cost-effective manner. Servers are moved or added as the need arises.

Each of the RuneScape servers allows 2,000 players to connect simultaneously, allowing a maximum capacity of more than 300,000 players. The servers are divided into free servers for all players and member's servers. Players can play on any eligible server. Some servers are given activity labels, allowing players performing tasks that require or desire group participation, such as mini-games, to group together.

In addition to the RuneScape servers, there are two members-only servers for RuneScape Classic , both located in the United Kingdom. Each of these is limited to 1,250 players, allowing a total number of 2,500 simultaneous RuneScape Classic players. Players can no longer create new accounts for RuneScape Classic .

Advertising

To support RuneScape's free content, advertisements are displayed through an advertisement banner that is placed above the playing screen on the free-player servers. On 13 July 2006, Jagex signed an exclusive marketing and distribution contract with WildTangent Games, which granted WildTangent the right to handle advertising in and around RuneScape in the United States. The deal also allowed WildTangent to distribute RuneScape through the WildTangent Games Network, a distribution channel, reaching over 20 million consumer PCs. Jagex moderators have stated that in-game advertisements will not be re-introduced. Since computer users may use advertisement blockers, which may discourage such advertisers, Jagex introduced a rule that prohibits players from blocking the advertisements in the free game.

Other languages

On 14 February 2007, Jagex released a German open beta translation of RuneScape . Currently, there are four German language servers online: three of them are free, and one is members only. These servers are presently located within Sweden and Finland. A French version of the game is also under production and they are hiring French translators on their corporate website Jagex.com. Jagex are also advertising a vacancy for the position of a Translation Team Leader for an intended Portuguese version of the game. In an interview Jagex CEO Geoff Iddison stated that "We do plan to go East with to the Asian market and the Eastern European market too" and "RuneScape is not for Japan, but it could work well in Malaysia for example. And where's India in all this? I think RuneScape is a game that would be adopted in the english-speaking Indian world and the local-speaking Indian world. We're looking at all those markets individually".

Gameplay

New players begin in a secluded area populated only by other beginners called: Tutorial Island. They are led on a set path where they learn most of the non-member skills needed to succeed in RuneScape . After the tutorial, players have access to tutors located in the towns they explore. These non-playable characters, or NPCs, can replace some basic equipment items if necessary and can give players appropriate information about their respective skills.

Sound

RuneScape has music, sound effects, and ambient noises throughout Gielinor. The music is designed to define the underlying cultures of the various locations around Gielinor. Sound effects, such as the "sploosh" heard when a lobster trap is submerged in water, are heard as players train their skills. Ambient noises, such as the cry of seagulls flying over the ocean, occur in logical places. As different locations are visited by the player, new music for that area is unlocked and can be played back later. Players can loop a song, adjust the volumes of the music, sound effects, and ambient noises independently of each other.

Graphics

RuneScape can be run with high or low-detail graphics; high-detail mode enhances texture and design, whereas low-detail provides a cleaner look and can reduce lag on older or less powerful computers. RuneScape's graphics have gone through two major overhauls, the latter of which has yet to be completed. The first update was the release of RS2.

The second, gradual overhaul began in February 2005, starting with several towns in the free-to-play area. When the engine was updated on May 16, 2006, allowing graphics of higher quality than before, the pace accelerated. So far, most of the free-to-play area has been updated, as well as some member's only areas and a large number of NPCs.

In May 2008, Jagex announced plans for a major graphical update. The most noticeable changes will be a full-screen mode, the addition of textures and shadows, and an increased level of detail. To avoid causing difficulty for players with lower-performance computers, the updates will take the form of a third detail mode alongside the current low and high detail modes. Jagex stated in a news item released on 2 June that "the major graphical improvement in early July... one of the most complex releases we've ever attempted."

RuneScape features a character-customization system. Unlike many MMORPGs, player characters are always human; however, players can choose the gender and a variety of hairstyles and colours, body types, facial features, skin colour and clothing options. Appearance is further complemented by wearing or wielding items. Standard weapons of the same class, such as swords, use the same set of animations in combat; however, a few special weapons have their own, distinctive animations.

Players can be transformed temporarily into objects, plants or animals, depending on the circumstances. These "morphs" sometimes allo

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